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Apple cancel warranty for smokers

David — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:25:19 +0000

Apple refuses to repair several computers, still under warranty, for the reason their owner was a smoker.

The Apple company has explained that these computers were "contaminated" by cigarette smoke and could not be repaired for "health reasons" because of risks of passive smoking on health technicians!

[...] Read the rest of Apple cancel warranty for smokers (149 words)

The Pirate Bay shuts down its trackers

David — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:19:13 +0000

The site The Pirate Bay, referencing files for sharing on BitTorrent, had been attacked in Italy and the Netherlands, and heavily sentenced in Sweden. The film and music industries had obtained sentences of one year of jail and € 2.7 million compensation.

In order to save some money, The Pirate Bay announced today the end of its BitTorrent trackers. (A tracker is a server to organize the transfer of files between peers.)

[...] Read the rest of The Pirate Bay shuts down its trackers (159 words)

Hadopi, French way to lose 150 millions €

David — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:52:29 +0000

Thursday, the famous French law Hadopi (version 2.1) is published to the official journal, but some questions still remain unanswered.

The goal is that the first notification e-mails are sent in early 2010. Yet we must clarify some points among all the texts. For example, in Article 6 of the law, the second paragraph was censured by the Constitutional Council. It said that the record companies can bring civil actions to obtain financial compensation.

As these record companies are behind this ridiculous law, no doubt they will also pressure to correct this.

[...] Read the rest of Hadopi, French way to lose 150 millions € (438 words)

Nokia goes into mini-laptops

David — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:43:06 +0000

Nokia, better known for its mobile phones, announced yesterday the upcoming release of a mini-laptop computer (the size of an Asus eeePC) with a 10 inches screen and dimensions of 26x18x2 cm.

The product, named Booklet 3G, contains WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and (as its name indicates) 3G modules.

[...] Read the rest of Nokia goes into mini-laptops (83 words)

Windows 7 first look

David — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:29:26 +0000

Some sites just released their first sensation about Windows 7 in final version.

In short, the new operating system from Microsoft is a good evolution of Windows Vista. Keeping the visual aspect of the Aero interface, Windows Seven brings more stability and more rapidity.

[...] Read the rest of Windows 7 first look (89 words)

LG and its largest fridge

Jessica — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:31:21 +0000

Home Appliance division of LG Electronics is one of the main actors in the electrical industry. Trying to innovate, LG also take advantage of the ecological fashion with low consumption on its products.

Today, LG presents its new range of refrigerators, and the largest the Platinum II.

[...] Read the rest of LG and its largest fridge (98 words)

French law Hadopi in troubles

Jessica — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:58:59 +0000

After the strong defeat in front of the Constitutional Council, the high authority for the art dissemination and the rights protection on the Internet Hadopi still suffering some attacks.

The law, refined to comply with the constitution, is now only a big tool to send warnings. A big tool costing 150 millions €.

First Friday, Numerama published an e-mail written by a journalist of the TV company TF1, Jérôme Bourreau, who was fired after writing to his MP. We learn that he has finally said the same things that the Constitutional Council.

[...] Read the rest of French law Hadopi in troubles (198 words)

Release approaching for The Sims 3

David — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:16:46 +0000

The Sims is a long saga, with two main games and a lot of extensions. Created by Will Wright, who has also invented Sim City, the first appeared on 2000, the second in 2004. This is one of the most sold video game in the world.

On early June 2009, the new opus The Sims 3 comes! It was time, after 8 extensions et 9 object collections for the 2d episode, the players biting their nails with impatience.

[...] Read the rest of Release approaching for The Sims 3 (308 words)

Hadopi law terrifies the French Internet

David — Sun, 10 May 2009 19:14:16 +0000

The best proof, according to me, of the inefficiency of our legislative system is the small text, made mandatory in 1996, on all the video games warning against the risks related to the epilepsy. Whereas it is the light of the cathode tube TVs which can be responsible about it (and only for already predisposed people), this warning is obligatory on the video games, and not on televisions. Even on the portable consoles, which are not concerned.

The French law for "Creation and Internet" Hadopi was finally accepted on April the 28th in its actual way (some modifications could still be made by the senators) after a first rejection.

We speak and write a lot about this law in France, and it's a good thing. We have a lot of unnecessary laws in France, as everywhere. That's what inevitably happens when politicians must create rules in domains don't know.

So we can really ask ourselves if it's to the members of parliament to vote for laws. They can not be competent in all domains.

[...] Read the rest of Hadopi law terrifies the French Internet (304 words)

The Pirate Bay also attacked in Italy

David — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:37:42 +0000

The site The Pirate Bay, referencing files for the P2P network BitTorrent, was already heavily condemned by the Sweden justice. The musical and cinematographic industries have obtained one year of prison sentences and 2.7 millions € of reparation.

This time it's in Italy that IFPI (International Federation of Phonographic Industry) attacks the website in justice.

[...] Read the rest of The Pirate Bay also attacked in Italy (77 words)

Windows 7 RC available in warez

Jessica — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:02:53 +0000

The Realease Candidate version of Windows 7 falls in the warez networks like BitTorrent in P2P.

This version (build 7100 english) was distributed to several Microsoft partners to find the last bugs. But there won't be major evolution in the final version which will be commercialised.

[...] Read the rest of Windows 7 RC available in warez (68 words)

Google Update becomes open-source

David — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:47:27 +0000

After often criticized Google, about Chrome because of a potential spyware in Google Update and recently about the cookie DART, I must applause the excellent initiative of the U.S. giant to make available the source code for Google Update.

We often have doubt of what was actually doing this program provided with all Google products. To clear this doubt, this note was published:

[...] Read the rest of Google Update becomes open-source (198 words)

French law HADOPI rejected

Jessica — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:05:39 +0000

The French law for "creation and Internet" supposed to protect the artists rights by giving strong punishment to the web users was rejected by the parliament.

It's a surprise because the majority (political party UMP) was for the project. Hopefully, we can thank the absenteeism of our members of parliament, because on the 577 lawmakers only 36 have participate voted.

[...] Read the rest of French law HADOPI rejected (98 words)

Web alcohol advertising authorized in France

Jessica — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:22:54 +0000

In France the Évin's law of 1991 forbids alcohol ads on TV, but not on the press and on the radio.

Until now, the things were not specified in this law about the Internet.

In January 2008, the Heineken beer company was convicted of advertising for alcohol on its own website! The court has preferred to keep the strict sense of the law, allowing alcohol advertising only in the print media and radio.

But things will soon change in the country of wine...

[...] Read the rest of Web alcohol advertising authorized in France (102 words)

Oscars 2009 results revealed

Jessica — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:17:27 +0000

Is the information true? In any case, with the number of movies or CDs available before their release, why not also the results of Academy Awards 2009 found on the Web 2 days before the official ceremony...

This document found on the Web is the scan of a letter signed by Sid Ganis, the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Slumdog Millionaire nominated for 10 Awards would be the great winner: best film, best director, best photography. Its great oppponent The curious case of Benjamin Button nominated in 13 categories would collect finally only the best makeup and costume design awards.

So here's the letter of the 81th Academy Awards results:

[...] Read the rest of Oscars 2009 results revealed (125 words)

Blackjack card counter on iPhone

Jessica — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:35:22 +0000

How to cheat in casinos with an iPhone? An software named Blackjack Card Counter can do some miracles in a casino!

As the name says, this application for iPhone allows you to count the cards on a black-jack table. It was developed by an Australian, Travis Yates, and sold for only $2.49 on iTunes.

[...] Read the rest of Blackjack card counter on iPhone (113 words)

French justice condemns a security website for hacking

Jessica — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:44:27 +0000

I couldn't believe my eyes reading this story: The French justice condemns Zataz.com to silence.

Here is a little summary.

A reader alerted Zataz.com, a site specialized in computer security, after discovering a very important security hole on the server of a company. Anyone was allowed to access confidential data with a simple browser.

The writer verifies the hole and alerts the company. No reaction. He needs to send several e-mails and phone for the hole to be corrected.

Instead of thanking him, 2 month later, this company attacks Zataz in court for piracy!

[...] Read the rest of French justice condemns a security website for hacking (106 words)

Crisis to gain computers

Jessica — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:57:48 +0000

Falling profits, disastrous sales despite Christmas, layoffs... The major manufacturers are in troubles.

Intel announces results for the 4th quarter divided by 10 compared to the previous quarter (2.3 billion -> 230 million)!
AMD has fired 2,000 people and is about to get rid of 1,000 more within 3 months, the salaries of managers are reduced,
Seagate also announced 3000 layoffs and lower wage,
Google decides to abandon six services (video, notes, Jaiku...),
NVIDIA has suffered a fall from 40 to 50% of its sales,
...

[...] Read the rest of Crisis to gain computers (165 words)

Birthday and happy new year 2009

David — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:53:55 +0000

It's December the 31st, the year 2008 is ending. This is one year and one day that our site exists (cf the first post Hello world).

We have written 75 articles, you have written 79 comments in our categories.

Of course, we want to wish you a happy year 2009.

[...] Read the rest of Birthday and happy new year 2009 (29 words)

TrackMania celebrates its 5th anniversary

David — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:13:49 +0000

I received an email last night, as probably all registered players to the online game TrackMania, announcing «TrackMania celebrates its 5th anniversary with a video!»

And a link points to a page with a video summarizing these 5 years of success for the French company Nadeo.

[...] Read the rest of TrackMania celebrates its 5th anniversary (127 words)